Parents thrash principal for beating visually impaired

In a barbaric incident, a visually challenged principal of a private school for blind allegedly beat up three visually challenged boys in Kakinada town of Andhra Pradesh, district officials said on Monday.

The incident, which took place two days back, came to light after local TV channels showed video footage of the principal "mercilessly" beating up the boys with a stick, they said.

The footage also showed the principal pushing one of the boys towards a wall. The clips showed children pleading to spare them but the duo showed no mercy.

Parents thrash principal

The principal, identified as Srinivas, and school's secretary, KV Rao, who assisted him in the act, have been arrested based on the complaints of the parents, East Godavari district collector Neetu Kumar Prasad told PTI over phone.

The district administration has taken over the private school as of now, she added.

The arrests were made after parents staged protests and attacked the Greenfield residential school for blind at Thimmapuram in Kakinada town.

Reacting to the incident, some parents entered the school's office room and thrashed the principal. They hurled chairs at him and pushed him towards the exit before police could intervene.

Rao admitted that they beat up three students for making noise. He even defended the action by saying punishment is necessary for those making noise.

District Collector Neetu Prasad ordered probe on the incident. The District Education Officer (DEO) Srinivas Reddy will conduct the probe.

The teshildar has also been asked to carry out a detailed inquiry and submit a report.

The official along with police reached the school and spoke to the children, who were sent to the Kakinada government hospital for medical examination.

"Once the report is submitted we will take necessary action against those involved in the incident," Kakinada revenue divisional officer BR Ambedkar said.

According to preliminary information, the principal punished the students for "indiscipline" because they had played outside the school premises, Ambedkar added.